Layered Patriotic Cocktail (Virgin or Alcoholic)

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This cocktail is so fun to make and is perfect for the 4th of July! It can easily be made for kids or adults. You will just need a few ingredients and champagne glasses in order to see the stripes!

The secret to getting the separated layers is sugar content. The liquid with the lowest amount of sugar will end up on top and the liquid with the most will end up on the bottom.

If you can't find the exact ingredients I use, don't worry. However, you may need to do some simple math...

You will need a blue juice that is low in sugar in order for it to end up on top. Then white will need to have slightly more sugar which you can dilute with your liquor and/or just sparkling water. And for the red layer you will add flavored syrup to pop, which makes it the highest sugar content.

For the red layer, you will need Sprite or 7Up mixed with cherry grenadine or raspberry Torani syrup. This layer will be your highest sugar content so it will sit at the bottom. You can add 1 or 2 tablespoons of grenadine. Use two for a darker color and more distinct layers, but keep in mind it will be a lot sweeter.

For your white layer you will need Mr. and Mrs. T Pina Colada drink mix (found at Target). I have tried other brands like seen in the image above and it does not mix in as well and may have too much sugar. The Mr. and Mrs. T has 40 grams of sugar per half cup serving. In order to make this mix lower sugar than the red layer, you will need to add sparkling water and rum if you choose to dilute it.

I recommend using plain white rum unlike in the photo below.

Lastly for the blue layer you have a few options. Some options may be hard to find but you mainly just need a blue juice with a low sugar content. I have used Blue Raspberry V8, Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid, and Hawaiian Punch Polar Blast. All three options are pretty low for sugar content compared to your other layer ingredients. You can also mix 1/2 cup of your blue juice with 1/2 cup of sparkling water to decrease the sugar content.

Start by mixing up each layer and set them aside. Then add ice to your champagne glasses. You will need ice to fill the glass about 2/3 full so you can pour each layer onto the ice in order to keep the layers separated.

First pour in 1/4 of your red mixture into each glass. Next carefully add 1/4 of the white mixture to each glass, make sure to pour it slowly onto the ice. If it mixes slightly that is okay, after it sits for a little while the layers should mostly separate. However, you can see below my white and red mixed slightly. For more distinct layers add more cherry grenadine. I just wanted to cut down on the sweetness. Lastly add your blue layer carefully.

Add star crazy straws or a berry and banana star garnish.

You can mix the layers together or enjoy them separately.

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Ingredients

[Serves 4]

RED [39 grams sugar]

1 cup Sprite or 7Up

1 1/2-2 Tbsp cherry grenadine or raspberry Torani syrup (use 2 T if you want a darker red and more distinct layers)

WHITE [27 grams sugar] (Virgin)

1/3 cup Mr. & Mrs. T Pina Colada mix (this one is 40g sugar per 4 ounces)

2/3 cup sparkling water

WHITE [27 grams sugar] (Alcoholic)

1/3 cup Mr. & Mrs. T Pina Colada mix (this one is 40g sugar per 4 ounces)

4 ounces white rum

Sparkling water to fill to 1 cup

Blue [14 grams sugar]

1 cup Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid or Hawaiian Punch Polar Blast or Blue Raspberry V8

Sparkling water optional*

*You can also mix 1/2 cup blue juice with 1/2 cup sparkling water to cut down on the sugar, I recommend this.

Directions

1. Start by mixing up your red layer. I like to use a glass liquid measuring cup and add my pop then grenadine. Stir in the grenadine. You can add more grenadine if you would like a darker red color and more distinct layers, just be mindful that it can get pretty sweet.

2. Next add ice to 4 champagne glasses about 2/3 full. You need ice to pour the liquid on top of otherwise the layers will mix.

3. Pour 1/4 of your red mixture into each glass.

4. Next measure out your Pina Colada mix followed by sparkling water and rum if you are adding it. Then stir it well. If your Pina Colada mix has more sugar than 40 grams per 1/2 cup, you might need to use less of it and add more sparkling water.

5. Pour 1/4 of your white mixture into each glass. Do it slowly and be sure to pour onto the ice.

6. Lastly, mix up your blue layer. You can do half and half with sparkling water and your juice or all juice. I prefer to mix it with sparkling water to cut down on sugar.

7. Again, carefully pour 1/4 of the blue mixture into each glass.

8. Add berry and star banana garnishes, a fun crazy straw, or any garnish you would like. Enjoy them mixed or as is.

#4thofJuly #partiotic #cocktail #layeredcocktail #kiddiecocktail #drinkrecipe